January 2007
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 12, No. 1
NEXT MEETING 5:00pm Sunday, January 7th, 2007
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to join us. Non-members are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our group and what we do. For more information, visit our website at www.isgorlando.org .
Officers:
President/Treasurer
Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328
Vice President/Member Reception/Newsletter
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Secretary
Jacquelyn Fain, crosstyes1@yahoo.com
Website
Carlos Colon (352) 326-4295
Archives
Barbara Ross (407) 862-2795
Membership Issues
Folks, it’s time to pay up! For those active members who haven’t paid their dues in a while (and you know who you are), please give Russ a check for your $35. Your dues cover ISG expenses, especially those associated with the newsletter. Any shortfall comes out of Russ’s pocket.
Which brings us to another point: we need a new Membership Officer! The duties are light; the officer just needs to keep track of current ISG members and who paid their dues when. If interested, please contact Russ or Matt. Thanks!
President's Letter
Dear Members,
Most everyone from up north thinks of Florida as the state that’s forever warm, and we have to agree. It’s really true. Didn’t we have the best December ever in 2006? Here we are starting a new year, and it’s continuing that way. Who knows, though? By the time you get this newsletter, it may have turned cool. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a song telling about Christmas in summertime weather?
Everyone that got sweaters, coats, and the like for Christmas should wear it to the next meeting. We can call it Santa’s gift for January.
Here’s a bit of information I’d like to offer, that I hope you’ll take into consideration. I think a lot of doors have been closed to members due to lack of correct preparation. Too often, I fear, we send out poorly-prepared tapes and CDs. Anything you send out should be as professional as possible. I’ve had several phone calls from publishers and record labels telling me they would gladly listen to original songs if they are really ready to go.
Some publishers try to give critiques to help out writers if they are sufficiently impressed. If you are using a song form that is difficult to understand, you’re not giving yourself much of a chance. If you have something you’d like to send out, why not let us critique it at one of our meetings? That way, you can be sure you have a clean concept and presentation before mailing it out.
If you really want to be in the music business, try to do it with pride and knowledge. I’m looking forward to seeing you Sunday. Try to bring something of yours so we can help you with it.
Best ever,
Russ
New Year, New Approach
By Matt Griffin
Happy New Year! If you’re like me, those words may actually bring you down a peg or two. Another year has passed, we’re another year older and, about last year’s resolutions… Well, it’s easy to get down about it. I think we need a new approach.
Rather than making more resolutions that are hard to keep, how about if we just commit to trying to do things differently? Notice I didn’t say “better”. One way to get better at something is to simply try to do it using a different method. If we do that consistently, some of those new methods are bound to work better than the old ones. “New Approach” can work with almost anything, job, relationships, and yes, songwriting.
You knew I’d get around to talking about songwriting sooner or later. My simple, perhaps obvious idea is to try to write differently this year. There are so many ways to write, it should be easy to think of something new, anything that takes you a little out of your comfort zone. For example:
· Many songwriters write almost exclusively music before lyric or vice versa. Try a song using the technique you’re least comfortable with.
· How about a change of location? If you normally shut yourself in a bedroom to write, why not find yourself in a park in front of a lake or busy playground? Or compose a new melody in the shower.
· Always write by yourself? I always encourage songwriters to at least try collaborating. It may not work out, but what have you lost by trying?
· Attempt what I call “thesaurus writing” for a lyric. This works best with a Roget’s thesaurus, because words are groups according to similar meaning. Pick a provocative word, something vivid like “jealousy” or “clockmaker” or “slippery”, and look it up. Read the related words in that group and jot down any that sound interesting. Now look those up and continue. Maybe an interesting idea for a lyric will occur to you.
· Try to write a song in a genre you’ve never attempted. If you’re a country writer, try pop or hip hop. Or combine styles; how about a Christian children’s song? A jazz novelty song?
· Imagine yourself singing in a bar, even if you don’t have the necessary skills. Or place yourself in front of an orchestra dressed in formal wear. Then write what you imagine yourself singing. It sounds sort of ridiculous, but the brain is surprisingly easily to trick.
Of course, your own fresh idea will work just as well. So long as you try a new approach. J
ISG Bulletin Board
Jeff Mason’s gig schedule:
Appearing At O'Keefe's Irish Pub, Fridays & Saturdays from 5pm, musicians welcome!
115 S. Rockingham Tavares, FL, 352-343-2157
Appearing at Tijuana Flats on the Patio (weather permitting), Thursdays at 6pm
444 S. Hunt Club Blvd , Apopka , FL 407 774 0402
Lead Sheet preparation by Carlos Colon. A simple lead sheet contains the melody, lyrics and chord symbols. For more information, visit my website at www.cecoriginals.com and click on “Services” at the top of the page. Website design also available. Use your website address in advertising. Newspapers, business cards, fliers, to name a few and let’s not forget the use of email. Send your link to potential clients. For more information, visit a few of my clients sites at http://www.websandresumes.com/clients.htm.
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association, Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
We’re always looking for material for the newsletter. If you have any information that you would like to see added to the newsletter, please see Matt Griffin at the meetings or email him at isgorl@cfl.rr.com . Please keep your articles brief and to the point. Print deadline for the newsletter is approximately two weeks prior to the monthly meeting.
Classified advertising may be placed free of charge to members in good standing with the ISG . For more information on display advertising and/or classified advertising for non-members, please call Russ or Matt or email: isgorl@cfl.rr.com .
Why isn't your gig announced here? Call us with your appearance schedule!
Place your classified ad or gig announcement here! Free to ISG members as always! Just get your text to Matt by the print deadline (usually the Friday 16 days prior to the monthly meeting); email is best ( isgorl@cfl.rr.com ).
New members always welcome!
December Top Songs—Results of monthly critique session
(No critiques in December; check back next month!)
© 2006 ISG